By the Sea

I am still treasuring our time we shared by the sea last week. We celebrated 25 years of marriage together in a little piece of paradise in Destin, Florida. It was a gift from God and some very wonderful friends and we are so grateful. We had not been away together in a long while and we savored every moment.

With our toes in the cool sand, and the hush-hushing of the waves, we found our hearts easier to access. And, I discovered again the mesmerizing blue of my husband’s eyes. Those eyes that rival even the color of the aqua blue sea. They are so deep and peaceful. I fell again, and again. We talked about our desires and dreams, and the new places we are finding ourselves as our children are moving on into new phases of their own lives.

I read Gift from the Sea again while we were there, a book about the seasons of life and comparing them to different seashells. So appropriate. There is much wisdom in that little book. I am not entirely fond of the season that I am now entering, mostly because it is all together unfamiliar. I think I have been the happiest in my life while I was in the middle of the chaos. I knew my place. I had my life’s meaning set for a time. Now, all the activity that swirled around me is streaming off into different directions, and I often find myself alone. I don’t think anyone could have prepared me for this, although I know many great women that have endured this time in their lives and come through shining. I am grateful for the strong and gentle arms of my husband. He holds me when I feel uncertain, and prays with me about my purpose and calling, as well as our life together. I also pray with him about what God holds for him.

 

While we were there, we celebrated Independence Day with everyone else on the beach. It was quite the party. We were also able to witness a young man propose to his future bride. We just happened upon the scene at just the right time. So sweet.

I think my favorite part of the trip was the fact that my husband helped me hunt two sunsets. He knew how much I wanted to capture the sunset over Destin, so he made it his mission to find it on two different nights. This is true love, making another’s desires a priority over your own. I love him so much for that. And so, we did. We adventured together into several different beaches in the area and we found our sunsets.

My heart stretched to hold the glory as I clicked away. Eventually I just sat down in the water as the last glow of daylight rippled across the sky. I was a little girl again, by the sea.

Psalm 16:11 ~”You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever. ”